On the Determinants of Mortality Reductions in the Developing World

This article presents and critically discusses evidence on the determinants of mortality reductions in developing countries. It argues that increases in life expectancy between 1960 and 2000 were largely independent of improvements in income. The author characterizes the age and cause-of-death profi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Population and development review 2007-06, Vol.33 (2), p.247-287
Main Author: Soares, Rodrigo R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Analysis
Control
Demographic aspects
Demographic research
Demographic transition
Demography
Developing Countries
Development studies
Emerging technology
Health aspects
Health care access
Immunization
Income inequality
Infectious diseases
LDCs
Life expectancy
Mortality
Mortality decline
Mortality rate
Mortality Rates
New technology
Nutrition
Population
Public health
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Summary:This article presents and critically discusses evidence on the determinants of mortality reductions in developing countries. It argues that increases in life expectancy between 1960 and 2000 were largely independent of improvements in income. The author characterizes the age and cause-of-death profile of changes in mortality and assesses what can be learned about the determinants of these changes from the international evidence and from country-specific studies. Public health infrastructure, immunization, targeted programs, and the spread of less palpable forms of knowledge all seem to have been important factors. Finally, the article suggests that the evolution of health inequality across and within countries is intrinsically related to the process of diffusion of new technologies and to the nature of these new technologies, public or private.
ISSN:0098-7921
1728-4457
DOI:10.1111/j.1728-4457.2007.00169.x